Working platform for derrick masts



July 28, 1942. J. E. ORTLOFF WORKING PLATFORM FOR DERRICK MASTS Filed April 2, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

JOHN E. ORTLOFF BY fl x L ATTORNEYS.

Patented July 28, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WORKING PLATFORM FOR DERRICK MASTS John E. Ortloff, Tulsa, Okla., assignor to Franks Manufacturing Corporation, Tulsa, Okla., a cornotation of Oklahoma Application April 2, 1942, Serial No. 437,401

g 4 Claims. (Cl. 304-14) This invention relates to working platforms,

particularly of the folding typ for use especially with oil field derrick masts of the portable type.

In the construction, operation and use of portable type derrick masts, now in wide use in oil fields, it is especially desirable that all the elements of the mast and the various appurtenant appliances be so arranged and connected as to be quickly and easily set up and taken down, and when taken down, to form a compact structure, which may be transported from place to place on trucks operating over standard highways.

In order to meet these requirements, derrick masts of the portable type are necessarily of relatively small cross-sectional area and of relatively shallow depth from the working front thereof to the rear thereof. Accordingly, working platforms, such as pipe racking platforms, normally employed with such a mast, must necessarily extend forwardly from the front of the mast and must either be removed from the mast or be folded into or against the mast when the latter is to be lowered or disassembled for movement to another location. Speed, simplicity, and safety of assembly and dis-assembly of the mast structure, therefore, become important factors in the design of such masts.

A principal object of this invention is theprovision of an improved form of working platform which is adapted to be speedily and compactly folded against a derrick mast, without bodily removal therefrom.

A more specific object is the provision of an improved form of guard panel for the front of the platform, having hinged connection thereto, whereby the entire platform may be folded into place against the front of the derrick mast by an upwardly directed force applied to the guard panel, thereby requiring a minimum of manual effort and attention on the part of the workmen. Another object is the provision of a simple form of connection means between the front and sideguard of the platform, in accordance with this invention, to permit speedy and easy connection and separation of the platform members when setting up and taking down the derrick mast.

Other and more specific objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate one useful embodiment of a working platform in accordance with this invention. It will be understood that various changes and alterations may be made in details -of the new structure. within the scope of the appended claims, but without departing from the spirit of this invention. 4

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side view illustrating the general ansembly of aderrick mast and a working Platform in accordance with this invention,

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the platform,

Fig. 3 is a front end elevation of the platform,

Fig. 4 is an enlarged side elevation of a portion of the mast, showing the platform in normal operating position thereon, in solid lines, and showing. in dotted outlines, the position of the platform when folded against the mast,

Figs. 5 and 6 illustrate details of the connection between the side and front guard panels of the platform, and

Figs. 7 and 8 illustrate details of the hinged connection between the front guard panel and the platform frame.

Referring to the drawings, Fig. 1 shows a mast of the portable type, designated generally by the numeral I, disposed in its normal operating position on a base 2, on which is mounted the usual power-supplying equipment 3 and conventional draw-works 4 equipped with the usual cat-head 5. A working platform, designated generally by the numeral 6, is shown extending from the front of the mast in its normal horizontal working position. A cat-line I is shown connected to the front end of the platform and extending over a pulley 8 carried on the crown of the mast, and thence down to the cat-head 5 in an arrangement employed when preparing to fold the platform against the mast.

Mast l is of the more or less conventional openfront type having rear legs 9-9 and front legs Ill-40 suitably interconnected by means of girts II to provide a structure which is generally rectangular in cross-section (Fig. 2), the legs being further inter-connected by means of internal bracing member l2 to provide an unobstructed working area between and forwardly of the front legs l0--lll.

The platform proper comprises a generally U- shaped frame, consisting of spaced parallel side members I3-l3 and a front end member I4 conmeeting together the outer or front ends of the side members I3-I3. The opposite ends of side members |3l3 extend on opposite sides of'the mast l and are spaced laterally therefrom. These ends of the side members 13-43 are hing'edly attached to the respective adjacent front legs Ill-l0 by means of hinge bracket I5-l5 carried by legs Ill-Ill, and by hinge pins 6-16 extending through the brackets 15-15 and members l3-l3. whereby the platform may be swung between the generally horizontal working position, as shown in solid outlines in Fig. 4, and the vertical or folded position. shown in dotted lines in the same figure. Rear legs 3-3 are provided with laterally extending lugs l'I-Il which act as stops to hold the free ends of members l3-I3 against upward movement past the horizontal position.

Suitably disposed inside the platform frame and along one side thereof is a group of piperacking fingers l3 of any suitable or conventional design or arrangement. Along the opposite side of the frame a floored section I3 of any suitable or convenient form is disposed in working proximity to the racking fingers l3. As indicated the form and arrangement of racking fingers i and floored section l3 may be of any suitable form and arrangement, conventional or otherwise. since the particular details of these elements form no essential part of this invention.

A pair of side guard rails 20-20 parallel to side members i3-i3 are vertically spaced therefrom and supported therefrom by a pair of uprights 2l-2l mounted adjacent the outer ends of members i3-l3 and a second pair of uprights 22-22 positioned on members l3-l3 adjacent the front face of mast l. Suitable vertical and angle stiffening members 23 and 24, respectively, extend between the side members I3-l3 and the side rails 20-20. Side rails 20, uprights 2| and 22 and bracing members 23 and 24, together, form the side guard panels for the platform, the two side guard panels, thus formed and mounted on the opposite side members i3-i3 being substantially identical in form and construction.

A front guard panel is provided for the front end of platform and comprises parallel upper and lower horizontally positioned rails, 25 and 20, respectively, which are spaced apart vertically. A pair of vertically extending posts 21-21 connects together the adjacent ends of rails 25 and 20 and form the sides of the front guard panel. Two pairs of vertically extending, laterally spaced hinge plates 28-28 are mounted on end member H of the platform frame and are adapted to receive the lower ends of posts 21-21 which are hingedly connected thereto by means of hinge pins 29-29 which extend transversely through each pair of hinge plates 28-25 and the inserted end of the corresponding post 21. With this arrangement the entire front guard panel is adapted to swing forwardly from the front end of the platform substantially into the plane thereof. The opposite ends of upper rail 25 extend laterally slightly beyond the sides of the front guard panel as determined by posts 21-21, and these ends are adapted to come into contact with the upper ends of uprights 2l-2l which limit'the movement of the front guard panel mwardly of the platform. A pair of vertically spaced keeper plates 30-30 are mounted on the upper ends of uprights 2l-2l and extend forwardly therefrom, the spaces between the keeper plates 30-30 providing slots for the reception of the ends of upper rail 25 when the latter is swung into contact with the uprights 2i-2i. A locking pin 3|, attached by a flexible connection 32 to each of the side guard panels, is adapted to be removably inserted through suitable registering apertures in keeper plates 30-30 and the inserted end of upper rail 25, and serves to lock the ends of the front guard panel to the adjacent side panels when the platform is in normal working position. A plurality of eyes 33 are attached to upper rail in laterally spaced relation, one of the eyes 33 being positioned at approximately the mid-point of rail 25 and adapted for the reception of a hook 34 attached to the end of cat-line 1.

In operation, as for example when it is desired to fold platform 5 against mast I from the working position shown in full lines in Fig. 4 to the folded position, shown in dotted lines, cat-line l is attached by means of hook 34 to eye 33 and locking pins 3| are withdrawn from Plates -30 and the ends of upper rail 25. Tension is then applied to cat-line I through suitable rotation of cat-head 5 and the platform is swung upwardly about hinge pins It as pivots. As the platform frame swings toward the vertical position, the

side guard panels will pass on the outside of the mast, and at an elevated point in the are described by the front end .of the platform, the ends of upper rail 25 will be pulled out of the spaces between keeper plates 33-35 and the front guard panel will stretch out along the front of the mast as shown. Thus by a single operation the platform and front guard panel may be quickly moved into a compact extended position alon the front of the mast, the side guard panels assumingthe positions against the sides of the mast shown in dotted outlines in Fig. 41 when thus folded against the mast, the eyes 33 located adjacent the ends of upper rail 25 may be employed to secure the folded platform against the mast by suitable securing means (not shown).

To return the platform to its normal working position, tension on cat-line I is released, and the platform allowed to drop, of its own weight, to the horizontal position. As this position is attained, the ends of upper rail 25 are automatically drawn into place between keeper plates 30-30 and re-insertlon of pins 3i-3l locks the side and front guard panels together and the structure is ready for use by workmen.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A platform for use with a derrick mast comprising, a frame enclosing a working platform and adapted to be hingedly connected to the front of a derrick mast for movement relative thereto between horizontal and vertical positions, said frame including spacedparallel side members and an end member connecting the forward ends of said side members, vertically extending side guard panels mounted on each of said side members, a vertically extending front guard panel hingedly connected to said end member to swing forwardly relative thereto substantially into the plane of said frame, whereby both said platform and said front guard panel are extendable vertically along the front of said mast by an upwardly directed force applied to said front guard panel, and means for detachably connecting said front guard panel to said side guard panels when the platform is in the horizontal position.

2. A platform for use with a derrick mast comprising, a frame enclosing a working platform and adapted to be hingedly connected to the front of a derrick mast for movement relative thereto between horizontal and vertical positions, said frame including spaced parallel side members and an end member connecting the forward ends of said side members, vertically extending side guard panels mounted on each of said side members, a vertically extending front guard panel hingedly connected to said end member to swing forwardly relative thereto substantially into the plane of I said frame, whereby both said platform and said front guard panel are extendable vertically along prising, a frame enclosing a working platform and adapted to be hingedly connected to the front of a derrick mast for movement relative thereto between horizontal and vertical positions, said frame including spaced parallel side members and an end member connecting the forward ends of said side members, vertically extending side guard panels mounted on each of-said side members, a vertically extending front guard panel hingedly connected to said end member to swing forwardly relative thereto substantially into the plane of said frame, whereby both said platform and said front guard panel are extendable vertically along the front of said mast by an upwardly directed force applied to said front guard panel, keeper members carried by the forward ends of said side panels, each of said keeper members consisting of a pair of vertically spaced plates extending forwardly from the side guard panels and arranged to receive therebetween an adjacent portion of said front guard panel, and removable pins extending through said plates and the portions of said guard panel received therebetween for locking said front guard panel to said side guard panels when the platform is in the horizontal position.

4. A platform for use with a derrick mast comprising, a U-shaped frame enclosing a working platform and adapted to behingedly connected to the front of a derrick mast for movement relative thereto between horizontal and vertical positions, side guard panels mounted on the sides of said frame, a front guard panel mounted on the forward end of the frame between the side guard panels, a hinged connection between said front guard panel and the forward end of the frame whereby said front guard panel may swing forwardly relative thereto substantially into the plane of the frame, and means for detachably connecting said front guard panel to the side guard panels when the platform is in the horizontal position.

JOHN E. ORTLOFF. 

